In February 1995, the 333,333rd Lada, a Samara 1.5GXS was produced at the Carnaby
Import Centre and to mark the achievement, the vehicle was donated to the Cancer
Research Campaign after it was voted the most deserving cause by the entire staff
of MVI UK. Over the years Lada also supported Childwatch, BEN - the Motor and Allied
Trades Benevolent Fund and individual dealers were also very supportive of worthwhile
causes. They also sponsored at various times the Lada Classic Snooker Tournament,
Leeds Rugby League Football Club, and the Trafford Metros ice hockey team to name
a few!

In August 1996 the long awaited advertisement for the fuel injected Samara appeared
in the press with the headline, 'There isn't a single reason to buy the new 1.5 injected
Samara.' Taken out of context this headline perhaps forewarned that all was not well
with Lada in the UK. During a trip to Russia at the beginning of 1997, a new deal
for the supply of spares was agreed, but not the all important supply of new right-hand-drive
stock. AvtoVaz wanted more money per unit as they did not have the hard cash to buy
fuel injection components from GM and could not, due to emissions legislation, bring
carburettor equipped cars into the UK. MVI wanted more product for their money. A
further meeting ended in deadlock. MVI boss Terry Clarkson resigned and took part
in discussions with an unnamed company to buy MVI from Inchcape and continue the
Lada franchise, buying units from Finland - the Baltic Samara.

On July 4th 1997 it was officially announced Lada cars had finally reached the
end of the road in Britain. No new cars would be imported, but Lada owners, thought
to number 100,000 would still get parts and servicing through UK dealers. MVI's owners
Inchcape said an offer to acquire MVI had now been withdrawn and the Lada business
had been closed. Reason given, the difficulty in obtaining an American-made part
to enable Ladas to comply with emission standards meant the Russian manufacturer
AvtoVaz could no longer supply cars to MVI based at Carnaby. After over 350,000 sales,
one of Britain's most talked about and best loved cars was consigned to motoring
history. At their peak in 1988, more than 30,000 Lada cars were sold, although almost
10 years later, this figure had fallen to around 4,500 cars. The most popular model
was the Samara and the most popular colour red.

9th July 1997, the last 1000 new Ladas available in the UK were offered for sale,
not only through Lada dealers but other Inchcape outlets. The 939 Samaras, 17 Riva
Estates and 44 4x4 Nivas were in great demand and a Lada hot-line was set up to handle
enquiries.

Still produced in Russia, the latest models are available in western Europe but
not here in the UK.

Could it be that in the not too distant future, Lada, like Phoenix, will rise
from the ashes (of motoring history) and be on sale again in the UK. Only time will
tell.